of toronto



J. FAIRHEAD.

ICE SCORING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.26,1920.

1,384,749. Patented y 19, 1921.

Inventor,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAIIB I'AIRHEAD, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAKE SIMCOE ICE SUPPLY & COLD STORAGE CO., LIMITED, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

ICE-SCORING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1921.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES FAIRHEAD, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of 172 King St. East, in the city of Toronto, county of York, Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Scoring Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in ice scoring machines as described in the present specification and shown in the accompanying drawing that forms a part of the same.

The invention consists essentially of the novel means employed for scoring a lar e block of ice to facilitate subsequent brea in up into blocks of smaller dimensions.

e ob'ects of the invention are to facilitate the elivery of any required weight of ice, to reduce to a minimum the cost of delivering ice, to assure the purchaser of cornet weight and generally to provide an ice scoring machine which will be inexpensive to construct, simple of operation, durable and efficient.

The drawing is a perspective view of the machine, portions of the frame work being broken away to disclose various parts of the operating mechanism.

' Referring to the drawing the main frame adapted to support the various parts of the machine preferably consists of four uprights 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively, supported on the floor 5 of the building and suitably connected at their top ends by cross pieces 6.

7 is a platform leading to one end of the machine and located considerably above the floor 5, said platform being for the purpose of supporting the large blocks of ice as they are being fed to the machine for scoring. 8 are curved guide strips secured to inwardly extending blocks 9 from the uprights 1 and 2 respectively, the purpose of said strips being to guide the blocks of ice into the machine.

10 are blocks secured on the op osing faces of the uprights 1 and 2 and t e uprights 3 and 4 respectively and carrying metal brackets 11 provided with shaft bearings therethrough, said blocks being located on a slightly lower plane than the plat form 7.

12 are shafts rotatably journaled in the bearings in the brackets 11 and carrying on their ends pulleys 13 located at the rear of the machine, said pulleys bein connected by belts 14 to pulleys 15 mounte on the end of the drive shaft 16 which in turn is suitably connected with the source of power (said source of power not being shown in the drawings as the machine may be operated by any known means).

17 and 18 are circular saws by means of which the ice is scored, there being a like number of said saws rigidly mounted on each of said shafts, the saws from one shaft being oppositely dlsposed in relation to the saws from the other shaft and spaced to conform to the thickness of ice which is to be left uncut so that as a block of ice is forced downwardly on the saws it will be provided with parallel vertical cuts on opposite sides to facilitate subsequent breaking up into blocks of the required sizes.

The shafts 12 and the saws 17 and 18 are so positioned that the uppermost edges of said saws will be on a slightly lower plane than the platform 7 while the saws on each shaft are spaced from one another a distance corresponding to the size of blocks required to be cut from the large block.

19 are the end members of the carrier adapted to receive the blocks of ice from the platform 7, said ends being in the form of substantially rectangular frames located at the front and rear respectively of the main frame of the machine, said frames being of suflicient width to slide freely between the shafts 12 and being provided adjacent to their top and bottom ends with collars 20 adapted to loosely encircle guide posts 21 vertically arranged between said shafts 12 at each of the corners of said carrier.

22 is a member of substantially channel shape in cross section and connecting the top ends of the members 19.

23 is a bar connecting the lower ends of the ice carrier.

24 is a comparatively narrow platform or ice supporting member adapted to be supported by the bar 23 and being pivotally secured to said bar by means of a pivot member 25 located slightly to the rear of the longitudinal center of said bar 23, said ice supporting member being of sufficient length to project past each end of the ice carrier and terminating substantially flush with the platform 7 and the delivery chute 26 respectively. The under side of the rearmost end of said ice supporting member 24: is tapered from the point at which said member is pivoted to the bar 24 to the end thereof to permit of tilting said member rearwardly after the saws have passed through the ice and thus cause said ice to slide into the delivery chute 26.

27 are comparatively short brackets sus-' pended from the front and rear members respectively of the auxiliary frame 28 directly above the ice carrier and terminating slightly short of the uppermost limit of movement of the end members 19 of said ice carrier.

29 are metal straps or catches hingedly secured to the brackets 27 and projecting downwardly therefrom and having substantially hook shaped ends 29 adapted to engage the under sides respectively of the top bars of the members 19 for the purpose of supporting the ice carrier in its uppermost position, that is to say with the platform 24 on the same plane as the platform 7.

30 is a rod connecting the catches 29 to permit of simultaneous movement to both of said catches.

31 is a handle secured to the front catch 7 29 for moving the catches into or out of engagement with the ice carrier.

Upon the removal of the ice from the carrier to the delivery chute the said carrier is 22 and operating over sprocket wheels 34 rigidly mounted on a shaft 35, said shaft being rotataby mounted in bearings in brackets 36 secured to the uprights 1 and 3 of the main frame.

37 is a bar slightly greater in length than the width of the platform or ice supporting member 24, said vbar being supported on a horizontal plane adjacent to the floor 5 and between the end of the platform 7 and the adjacent end 19 of the ice carrier by means of cables or rods 38 secured to each end thereof and projecting upwardly through the front member ofthe auxiliary supporting frame 28.

39 is a hand lever adapted to be loosely supported on a rod 40 secured to the uprights 1 and 2 respectively of the main frame, said handle being provided with outwardly radiating ends 41 adapted to be pivotally connected to the upper ends of the cable or rods 38 so that upon the lowering of the handle end of said lever said rods or cables will be forced upwardly drawingthe 24 and causing the ice thereon to slide rearwardly on to the chute 26.

42 are braces preferably secured to the blocks 9 and projecting inwardly therefrom and being provided with openings therein adapted to permit of the rods or cables 38 sliding freely therein said braces being to hold said rods or cables to their vertical positions.

43 are brackets projecting inwardly from opposite sides of the main frame and being for the purpose of guiding the block of ice to its proper position on the ice carrier.

44 are brackets located at the rear of the machine to prevent the block of ice from pended form the ceiling of the room or from any desired form of bracket.

In the operation of this invention the ice carrier or elevator, which under normal conditions, that is to say when there is no weight thereon, rests in its uppermost position due to the weight of the balance member 32, .is first locked against downward movement by simply pushing on the handle 31 which forces the hook ends 29*? of the catches 29 under the top members 19 of said elevator. A block of ice is then deposited on the platform 24: and the catches 29 are released from engagement with the elevator and as the combined weight of said elevator and said block of ice is greater than that of the balance member 32 said elevator will gradually descend and as the block of ice is greater in width than the distance between the opposing saws said ice will be scored vertically on opposite sides by the swiftly revolving saws.

When the ice has passed the saws andit is V .aid of which itis deposited in any desired location. 7

Coincidently upon the removal of the ice from the elevator said elevator will be automatically started on its return to its uppermost position by the weight member 32 and upon reaching said position may be again locked by means of the catches '29.

As-the ice carrier or elevator is reciprocated the plunger 45 is operated within the oil cylinder 46 thus holding said elevator to a true vertical movement and assuring a smooth and even motion so as to eliminate any possibility ofthe saws becoming damaged, such as might result from any uneven movement of the block of ice.

While I have thus described the preferred construction, combination and arrangement of parts which constitute the present invention, it is obvious that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as contained in the claims for novelty following What I claim is 1. In an ice scoring machine, a main frame, parallel horizontal shafts rotatably mounted in bearings in said frame and carrying saws rigid therewith, means for rotating said shafts, an elevator reciprocating on a vertical plane between said shafts and adapted through the weight of ice placed thereon to lower said ice between opposing saws for scoring, said elevator being provided with a tilting floor, means for tiltmg said floor for delivering said ice from said elevator, a weight member adapted upon the removal of said ice from said elevator to return said elevator to its position above said saws, and a lock for said elevator.

'2. In an ice scoring machine, a main frame, parallel horizontal shafts rotatably mounted in bearings in said frame and carrying saws rigid therewith, the saws from one shaft being oppositely disposed in relation to those from the other of said shafts, an elevator reciprocating on a vertical plane between said shafts and adapted through the Weight of ice placed thereon to lower said ice between opposing saws for scoring said elevator being provided with a tiltable floor, a balance member connected to said elevator by flexible members operating over pulleys mounted above said elevator, said balance member being adapted upon the removal of ice from said elevator to return said elevator to its uppermost position, means for tilting said floor for delivering the ice from said elevator, and a catch adapted to hold said elevatorto its uppermost position.

3. In an ice scoring machine, a main frame comprising uprights and cross pieces, arallel horizontal shafts rotatably mounte in bearings in said frame, means for rotating said shafts, saws rigidly mounted on said shafts at intervals, the saws from one shaft being oppositely disposed in relation to those from the other of said shafts, said opposing saws being spaced a distance corresponding to the thickness of ice to be left uncut, an elevator slidably mounted on vertical rods located between said shafts adjacent to the front and rear respectively of said frame, said elevator comprising top and bottom and end members, the bottom of said elevator being provided with a tiltable platform projecting forwardly therefrom ble members secured to said elevators and operating over pulleys and carrying one or more weights adapted to hold said elevator normally to its position above said saws, manually operated means adapted to raise the projecting end of said platform for discharging the ice from said elevator subsequent to scoring, and catches adapted to hold said elevator to its uppermost position.

4. In an ice scoring machine, a main frame comprising uprights and cross pieces, parallel horizontal shafts rotatably mounted in bearings located at the front and rear respectively of said frame, means for rotating said shafts, circular saws rigidly mounted on said shafts at intervals, the saws from one shaft being oppositely disposed in relation to those from the other of said shafts, said opposing saws being spaced a distance corresponding to the thickness of ice to be left uncut, rods vertically arranged between said shafts adjacent to the front and rear ends respectively of said frame, an elevator comprising end members slidably supported on said vertical rods and connected by top and bottom pieces, a rearwardly tiltable platform mounted on said bottom pieces and projecting forwardly therefrom and terminating flush with a delivery latform, a balance member holding said tiltable platform normally on a plane with said delivery platform, said balance member and said elevator being connected by flexible members operating over pulleys rotatably mounted on a plane above said elevator, manually operated means for tilting said platform subsequent to said elevator reaching its lowermost position, and a discharge chute receiving the ice from said elevator.

5. In an ice scoring machine, a main frame comprising uprights and cross pieces, parallel horizontal shafts rotatably mounted in bearings located at the front and rear respectively of said frame, means for rotating said shafts, circular saws rigidly mounted on said shafts at intervals, the saws from one shaft being oppositely dis osed in relation to those from the other 0 said shafts, said opposing saws being spaced a distance corresponding to the thickness of ice to be left uncut, rods vertically arranged between said shafts adjacent to the front and rear ends respectively of said frame, an elevator comprising end members slidably supported on said vertical rods and connected by top and bottom pieces, a rearwardly tiltable platform mounted on said bottom piece and pro- 'ecting forwardly therefrom and terminatmg flush with a delivery platform, a balance member holding said tiltable platform normally on a plane with said delivery latform, said balance member and said eliavator being connected by flexible members operating over pulleys rotatably mounted on ing in an oi'l cylinder suspended above said I a plane abovesaid elevator, a lever having elevator, and ice guiding brackets. 10 suspension members therefrom carrying a Signed at the city of Toronto this 29th horizontally arranged bar located below the day of November, 1919. f

projecting end of said elevator platform 7 JAMES FAIRHEAD.

and adapted on operation to tilt said plat- Witnesses:

' form, a plunger secured to said elevator and G. MURPHY,

projecting upwardly therefrom and operat- T. G. ROGERS. 

